Wenzhou Catholic Cathedral

Wenzhou Catholic Cathedral

Wenzhou Catholic Cathedral is a Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a classic red tourism attraction.

Wenzhou Catholic Cathedral is located at No. 38 Zhouzhai Lane, Lucheng District, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province. Built in 1888 and designed and supervised by Chinese priest Fu Maolu, it is the first Gothic-style church in Wenzhou. Unlike Western churches that typically face west, this cathedral’s orientation follows local sunlight and ventilation conditions, facing south from the north. It consists of the Paul Hall, Sacred Heart Hall, priests’ building, Our Lady Pavilion, and Polish Building.

The main structure of the cathedral is the Paul Hall, located on the western side. The hall faces south from the north, with strong vertical lines on its main façade, sturdy piers, and a three-part vertical division. Two horizontal decorative bands connect the three sections, with a central rose window and distinct stained glass windows on both sides. Ionic columns fully showcase the Gothic architectural style. The Sacred Heart Hall is situated at the northwest corner of the Paul Hall, with a modest size and relatively simple structure. The priests’ building and the Polish Building are connected and both are two-story structures with brick walls and tiled eaves. There is a small courtyard in front of the buildings, featuring a circular well. Between the Paul Hall and the priests’ building stands the Our Lady Pavilion, which houses a statue of the Virgin Mary.

Wenzhou Catholic Cathedral was listed as a municipal cultural relics protection unit in 1985 and opened to the public in 1989. Due to its special status, architectural scale, construction craftsmanship, and current preservation condition, the cathedral is quite rare within the province, holds representative significance, and possesses high cultural relics value.

Protection Level: Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit

Period: Qing Dynasty

Category: Important Modern Historical Sites and Representative Buildings

Protected Area: East bounded by the heritage structure line; South bounded by Zhouzhaici Lane; West bounded by the heritage structure line; North bounded by Mujiao Lane and the green space to the north.

Building Control Zone: East bounded by the planned red line of the west side of Canghou Street; South bounded by Censhan Temple Lane; West bounded by the west wall of the Church of Mercy and the lane to the west of the heritage structure; North bounded by Mujiao Lane and the road to the north.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units